Pirates Recall Three From AAA, Designate Evan Meek for Assignment

By Troy Pfaff

ThePittsburgh Pirates have recalled short stop Chase d’Arnaud and pitcher Bryan Morris from AAA-Indianapolis and have also purchased the contract of pitcher Rick VandenHurk, adding all three players to the club’s major league roster. In order to make room for VandenHurk on the 40-man roster, the team designated former All-Star reliever Evan Meek for assignment. Evan Meek

d’Arnaud originally saw some MLB time last season, playing 48 games for the Pirates. He hit .217/.242/.287 during that span with no home runs and 12 stolen bases. Now 25, d’Arnaud posted another mediocre season offensively with Indianapolis. He hit .252/.325/.383 with six home runs and 34 stolen bases in 381 at bats. He played primarily short stop but got six games in at second base and three more at third base this season. Opposing catchers caught d’Arnaud stealing only five times, so he should become the team’s primary pinch runner for the rest of the season.

Morris, 25, had a 2.67 ERA with 79 strikeouts and just 17 walks in 81 innings with Indianapolis this season. The righty gave up eight home runs and recorded a 1.148 WHIP in his first AAA season and will get some work out of the Pirates’ bullpen.

VandenHurk pitched nine innings for theBaltimore Orioles last season before signing a minor league deal with the Pirates this year. He went 13-5 with a 2.92 ERA in 19 starts for Indianapolis this season. He struck out 113 and walked 35 in 123.1 innings with a 1.192 WHIP. He allowed eight home runs and will also likely get some work out of the team’s bullpen, though he may be given a spot start or two the rest of the way.

Meek allowed nine runs with eight strikeouts and six walks in 12 innings with the Pirates this season, though the 29-year-old had a nice 2.74 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 46 innings in AAA.